Automatic ball dispenser for multiple uses

ABSTRACT

A ball feeding device for a for connection to a separate and independent ball propelling machine, such as those used to propel softballs, tennis balls, and baseballs. The preferred embodiment includes a lower chute connected to the feed port of a ball machine. Balls are delivered to the lower chute from a hopper by a tumbler which revolves below the exit hole of the hopper, dispensing one ball at a time. The tumbler has a tumbler hole or plurality of tumbler hole cut onto its body leading to a separate and distinct chamber or chambers. The tumbler revolves within a tumbler casing which has an entry hole on its upper wall and a load hole on its opposite wall. A collar surrounds the entry hole. The collar is placed within the exit hole of the hopper. A turnstile ring with two vertical posts surrounds the collar causing the balls to be mixed, sorted, and dispensed into the exit hole as the ring rotates. As the tumbler revolves, the turnstile ring rotates around the exit hole and the posts mix the balls, positioning one ball within the collar. Meanwhile the chamber or chambers align themselves alternately with the entry hole and the load hole. This alternating alignment causes a ball or other object which is placed within the collar at the exit hole to drop into the tumbler hole when the tumbler hole is aligned with the entry hole, and into the lower chute 14 when the tumbler hole and the feed hole is subsequently aligned. The lower chute is sloped downwardly. The ball then rolls down the lower chute to the feeding point of the attached ball propelling machine.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This patent relates to and is a continuation of a previously filed Patent by the inventors. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,578 the inventors disclosed a device which mixes, sorts and feeds ball to a barrel attached to a source of flowing air. The balls were then propelled through the barrel by the source of flowing air. In a Disclosure Document filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Disclosure Document Number 453825 on Mar. 26, 1999 the inventors disclosed another use for the loading device. The loading mechanism disclosed can be used as an apparatus to feed balls to a connected ball propelling machine. Specifically this invention relates an improved method for mixing, sorting and individually loading objects such as balls of various sizes, weights, and materials, which are contained in a hopper, through an opening at the bottom of the hopper, onto a chute below the hopper which is attached to the feed port of a ball projecting machine. In this manner balls need not be placed in a linear formation for feeding to the attached machine. This enables the supply of balls to be randomly placed in the hopper and a greater number of balls to be sorted and loaded within the same space utilized by other devices. It distinguishes itself from the parent patent by not including the barrel or the source of flowing air. It also does not have the claim that the loading mechanism continuously obstructs the flow of air through its feed port. Its claims comprise of the parts numbered and discussed in the specifications of the Parent Patent which are above the barrel. These parts include the hopper, turnstile ring, and posts of the Parent Patent. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a hopper, sorter, and mixer, and dispensing mechanism in which balls randomly placed within the hopper are mixed, sorted and dispensed individually and dropped into the lower chute which is attached to the feed port of a ball propelling device. This device has other uses, including the dispensing of gum balls and other candy or objects for packaging purposes or for retail vending sales purposes.

DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Prior art which utilizes mechanical means to feed a single ball from a supply of balls is limited. Prior art requires the balls to be placed in a linear formation along an upwardly inclined upper track or chute above the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism then lifts the individual balls from the upper track and drops it on a lower track sloped downwardly to the feed port of the ball pitching device. Other models have complicated mixing, sorting, and dispensing mechanisms which are relatively large and expensive for the average consumer. Prior art which automatically sorts and loads balls into ball propelling mechanisms require the balls to be placed in a linear track above the loading mechanism. This limits the number of balls which the feeder can hold to the number which the device fits into a linear formation.

[0003] These methods are embodied in the following inventions:

[0004] i) The Automatic feeder for a ball propelling Machine in U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,646 by Kahelin utilizes a chute angled with respect to gravity containing a linear formation of balls which are individually removed from the track by a pair of hooks which rotate at the lowest end of the track. This device is limited by the number of balls which can be formed in a row. I also requires the operator to individually sort the balls to be placed in the chute.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0005] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a means for individually sorting and loading balls of various sizes, weights, shapes, and materials, from a bulk supply of balls to the point on entry of a ball propelling device. Each embodiment is simple and can be built or molded of inexpensive hard and lightweight materials such as plastic, metal, steel, resin, or vinyl. It can be assembled quickly, simply and easily by the user. When operational the unit can deliver balls from a bulk supply at various time intervals due to the adjustable speed of the motor rotating the tumbler. It is safe to operate because an infrared sensor may be used to automatically stop the revolution of the tumbler, and thereby the loading of the balls, whenever a person is within a range and distance to the invention which is unsafe.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0006]FIG. 1 shows an assembled view of the of the invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the component parts of the invention.

[0008]FIG. 3 shows a tumbler casing containing a tumbler with two chambers. Reference Numerals in drawings 3 lower chute 23 drive shaft 4 exit hole 24 tumbler chamber 14 tumbler casing 25 hopper 16 entry hole 26 turnstile ring 18 feed hole 27 posts 20 tumbler 28 funnel 21 collar 30 gear 22 tumbler hole

SUMMARY

[0009] In accordance with the present invention the preferred embodiment of the ball dispenser has a hopper containing a supply of balls with an exit hole at its lowest point creating a point of exit for the balls. The invention further comprises of a tumbler casing having a hollow round shell formation which has an entry on the upperside if its wall. The casing also has a feed hole on its lower wall opposite the entry hole which creates a feed port through the casing out the feed hole to a lower chute. The lower chute is attached to the feeding point of a ball propelling machine. Around the entry hole is a collar which prevents a ball from rolling off the casing. The collar is inserted into the exit hole of the hopper creating an exit point from the hopper into the entry hole. Around the collar is a turnstile ring containing two vertical posts which is capable of rotating around the feed hole. The undersurface of the turnstile ring has teeth or grooves along its circumference. Inside the casing is a dense tumbler which blocks the path through the casing, but which can be moved within the casing. Within the tumbler is a hole or a plurality of holes leading to one or more separate and distinct chambers. On one end of the tumbler is a gear which touches the underside of the turnstile ring causing the ring to revolve around the feed and exit holes as the tumbler rotates. The tumbler is formed and positioned in such manner that no matter what position the tumbler occupies within the casing, the holes on opposite sides of the casing are sealed from any passage of balls between them unless the tumbler is revolved. The tumbler is revolved within the casing by hand or other means such that the tumbler hole and tumbler chamber is aligned alternately with the entry hole and the feed hole of the casing and vice versa. During this revolution of the tumbler the tumbler prevents more than one ball at a time from exiting through the feed port. During this revolution of the tumbler the turnstile ring revolves, mixing the balls and causing one ball at a time to come to rest within the collar. When a chamber is aligned with the entry hole the ball drops into the chamber. The tumbler is then revolved to the point at which the same chamber is in alignment with the feed hole. At this point the ball drops into the lower chute and rolls to point of entry for the ball propelling machine. Passage of other balls through the feed port is continuously obstructed by the tumbler so that only one ball at a time may be fed to the attached ball propelling machine.

DESCRIPTION

[0010] The typical embodiments of the projection device of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0011]FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the machine.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 3 shows a tumbler casing containing a tumbler with two chambers.

[0014] The automatic feeder for ball propelling device depicted in the FIG. 1 comprises of a hopper 25 which holds a bulk supply of balls. The hopper replaces the upper chute of other loading devices. It eliminates the limitations of the linear formation requirement of the upper chute and permits many more balls to be supplied to the machine at one time. The hopper has funnel 28 at its bottom and an exit hole 4 centered at its lowest point. The tumbler casing 14 is a hollow shell solid on its wall except for an entry hole 16 on the upperside of its wall and a feed hole 18 on the lowerside of its wall directly opposite the entry hole. A raised collar 21 surrounds the entry hole. Around the collar is a turnstile ring 26 containing two vertical posts 27. The turnstile ring has a gearlike undersurface and rotates freely around the collar. The collar is inserted into the exit hole of the hopper. This creates a path or feed port from the exit hole of the hopper through the casing onto the lower chute. Inside the tumbler casing is a round tumbler 20 which occupies the cavity of the tumbler casing. The tumbler obstructs the feed port from the entry of a ball except for the tumbler hole 23 or tumbler holes 23 cut within the tumbler which lead to a separate and distinct chamber or chambers 27. On one end of the tumbler is a gear 30 which touches the underside of the turnstile ring causing the ring to revolve around the entry and exit holes as the tumbler rotates. The tumbler and its chambers are formed in such a manner that the tumbler can be revolved to alternate the alignment of the chambers from the entry hole and the feed hole and vice versa. This movement will move one ball at a time through the feed port while continuously obstructing other balls from passing through the feed port. The tumbler has an drive shaft 23 which when turned by hand or other means causes the tumbler to revolve. As the tumbler revolves, the turnstile ring rotates around the exit hole and the posts mix the balls, positioning one ball within the collar. Meanwhile the chamber or chambers align themselves alternately with the feed hole and the load hole. This alternating alignment causes a ball or other object which is placed within the collar at the exit hole to drop into the tumbler hole when the tumbler hole is aligned with the entry hole, and into the lower chute 14 when the tumbler hole and the feed hole is subsequently aligned. The lower chute is sloped downwardly. The ball then rolls down the lower chute 3 to the feeding point of the attached ball propelling machine.

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a tumbler with two chambers. A plurality of chamber permits for more rapid loading of balls. More than one ball is loaded for each revolution of the tumbler when there is a plurality of chambers. Of course an increase in the rate of loading may also be accomplished by increasing the speed of the electric motor which turns the drive shaft. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of: (a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper.
 2. The automatic feeder of claim 1 wherein said mixing and separating means comprises of a tumbler casing of a hollow shell formation having a round interior surface; an entry hole and a loading hole on opposite sides of the wall of the tumbler casing forming a feed port through the casing; a collar surrounding said entry hole; a turnstile ring surrounding said collar and having two vertical posts on its top surface and a gearlike undersurface; said collar being inserted into the exit hole of the tumbler casing; said tumbler casing having contained within a tumbler comprising of sufficient density obstruct balls of a predetermined size from passing through the casing; said tumbler having a gear on one end which touches the undersurface of the turnstile ring; said tumbler having a tumbler hole formed into its core creating an entry into a chamber; said tumbler having a form and size which permits its revolution within the casing;
 3. An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of: (a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper.
 4. The automatic feeder of claim 3 wherein said mixing and separating means comprises of a tumbler casing having a hollow shell formation and having a round interior surface; an entry hole and a loading hole on opposite sides of the wall of the tumbler casing forming a feed port through the casing; a collar surrounding said exit hole; a turnstile ring surrounding said collar and having two vertical posts on its top surface and a gearlike undersurface; said collar being inserted into the exit hole of the tumbler casing; said tumbler casing having contained within a tumbler comprising of sufficient density obstruct balls of a predetermined size from passing through the casing; said tumbler having a gear on one end which touches the undersurface of the turnstile ring; said tumbler having a plurality of tumbler holes formed into its core creating a plurality of chambers of a predetermined size; said tumbler having a form and size which permits its revolution within the casing;
 5. An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of: (a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper including: a tumbler casing of a hollow shell formation having a round interior surface; an entry hole and a loading hole on opposite sides of the wall of the tumbler casing forming a feed port through the casing; a collar surrounding said entry hole; a turnstile ring surrounding said collar and having two vertical posts on its top surface and a gearlike undersurface; said collar being inserted into the exit hole of the tumbler casing; said tumbler casing having contained within a tumbler comprising of sufficient density obstruct balls of a predetermined size from passing through the casing; said tumbler having a gear on one end which touches the undersurface of the turnstile ring; said tumbler having a tumbler hole formed into its core creating an entry into a chamber; said tumbler having a form and size which permits its revolution within the casing;
 6. An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of: (a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper including: a tumbler casing having a hollow shell formation and having a round interior surface; an entry hole and a loading hole on opposite sides of the wall of the tumbler casing forming a feed port through the casing; a collar surrounding said exit hole; a turnstile ring surrounding said collar and having two vertical posts on its top surface and a gearlike undersurface; said collar being inserted into the exit hole of the tumbler casing; said tumbler casing having contained within a tumbler comprising of sufficient density obstruct balls of a predetermined size from passing through the casing; said tumbler having a gear on one end which touches the undersurface of the turnstile ring; said tumbler having a plurality of tumbler holes formed into its core creating a plurality of chambers of a predetermined size; said tumbler having a form and size which permits its revolution within the casing;
 7. An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of: (a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a tumbler comprising of sufficient density obstruct balls of a predetermined size from passing through its body, said tumbler having a tumbler hole formed into its core creating an entry into a chamber; (d) a connective means wherein said tumbler is fixed below said exit hole in alignment with said tumbler hole; (e) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper.
 8. The automatic feeder of claim 7 wherein said connective means and said mixing and separating means comprises of a tumbler casing of a hollow shell formation having a round interior surface; an entry hole and a loading hole on opposite sides of the wall of the tumbler casing forming a feed port through the casing; a collar surrounding said entry hole; a turnstile ring surrounding said collar and having two vertical posts on its top surface and a gearlike undersurface; said collar being inserted into the exit hole of the tumbler casing; said tumbler casing having contained within said tumbler; said tumbler having a gear on one end which touches the undersurface of the turnstile ring; said tumbler having a form and size which permits its revolution within the casing;
 9. An automatic feeder for connection between a source of balls and a ball propelling machine comprising of: (a) a hopper capable of holding a predetermined volume of balls; (b) an exit hole on the bottom of said hopper; (c) a tumbler comprising of sufficient density obstruct balls of a predetermined size from passing through its body, said tumbler having a plurality of tumbler holes formed into its core creating a plurality of entries into a plurality of chambers; (d) a connective means wherein said tumbler is fixed below said exit hole in alignment with said tumbler hole; (e) a means of mixing the balls and separately removing them from the hopper.
 10. The automatic feeder of claim 9 wherein said connective means and said mixing and separating means comprises of a tumbler casing having a hollow shell formation and having a round interior surface; an entry hole and a loading hole on opposite sides of the wall of the tumbler casing forming a feed port through the casing; a collar surrounding said exit hole; a turnstile ring surrounding said collar and having two vertical posts on its top surface and a gearlike undersurface; said collar being inserted into the exit hole of the tumbler casing; said tumbler casing having said tumbler contained within; said tumbler having a gear on one end which touches the undersurface of the turnstile ring; said tumbler having a form and size which permits its revolution within the casing;
 11. The automated dispensing mechanism of claims 1, 5, 6, 7, and 9, further having a lower chute having an upper end connected below the feed hole and a lower end attached to a separate and independent ball projecting machine. 